NCDC Reassures Nigerians Of Health Security

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reassured Nigerians of its commitment and efforts to ensure their health security is protected.

The Communication Manager of NCDC, Dr Lawal Bakare, gave this assurance in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Bakare said that part of Nigeria’s immediate response was by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who issued a statement over the weekend highlighting the need for citizens not to panic.

He quoted the minister as saying: “Nigerians are urged not to panic as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is equipped to secure the health of citizens’’.

He noted that the centre has for a while now been strengthening states capacities to detect, manage and respond to haemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever and Ebola.

He further said that following this directive, the NCDC convened an emergency meeting with relevant stakeholders to guide the country’s preparedness activities.

“At the meeting chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, an Ebola Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) was set up to lead on the coordination of the immediate risk assessment of the situation in the DRC.

“The group will coordinate the strengthening of prevention and preparedness for any potential introduction of the virus into Nigeria,” the